Chapter 65
T HE VINTAGE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, still in his hand, splintered apart before it hit the ground. A loud metal ping sounded as a bullet ricocheted off the backstop. Someone was shooting at him! Maggione’s people? Who else?
“Boys! Dugout ? now! Run! Run!” he yelled.
The boys didn’t have to be told twice. Michael Jr. grabbed his youngest brother’s arm. All three of them sprinted for cover, fast little bastards, running like they just stole somebody’s wallet.
The Butcher ran for all he was worth in the opposite direction; he wanted to draw fire off of his boys.
And he needed the gun in his car!
The Humvee was parked at least sixty yards away, and he ran as straight a line as he dared to get there. Another shot came so close that he heard it whiz by his chin.
The gunshots were coming from the woods to the left of the ball field, away from the road. That much he knew. He didn’t bother looking around though. Not yet.
When he got to the Humvee, he threw open the passenger-side door and dove inside. An explosion of glass followed.
The Butcher stayed low, face pressed against the floor mat, and reached under the driver’s seat.
The Beretta clipped there represented a broken promise to Caitlin. He pulled the loaded weapon loose and finally took a look up top.
There were two of them, coming out of the woods now ? two of Maggione’s wiseguys for sure. They were here to put him down, weren’t they? And maybe his kids too.
He unlatched the driver’s door, then rolled outside onto gravel and dirt. Chancing a look under the car, he saw a pair of legs headed his way in a shuffling run.
No time for deep thought or any kind of planning. He fired twice under the chassis. Maggione’s man yelped as a blossom of red opened above his ankle.
He went down hard, and the Butcher fired again, right into the hood’s twice-shocked face. The bastard never got off another shot, word, or thought. But that was the least of his worries now.
“Dad! Dad! Dad, help!”
It was Mike’s voice ? coming from all the way across the park, and it was hoarse with panic.
Sullivan jumped up and saw the other hit man headed for the dugout, maybe seventy-five yards away. He raised his gun but knew he’d be firing toward his boys, too.
He jumped in and slammed the Humvee into Drive.